Henry Smith MP has questioned the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on the return of further health services to Crawley (on Wednesday, 10th October).

In his second Prime Minister’s Question (PMQ) in as many months, the Crawley MP asked Theresa May about the NHS ten year plan, due to be published in the coming weeks.

Henry said;

“Health services continue to return to Crawley, but more needs to be done to put right the decisions taken over a decade ago.

“The Prime Minister has already confirmed that by 2023-24, the NHS England budget will increase by £20.5 billion a year in real terms compared with today; a real terms increase of £394 million a week more.

“With the upcoming publication of the NHS ten year plan it’s vital that we see more services return to Crawley, with a real focus on such local healthcare provision in the NHS plan.”

NHS funding is to increase on average by 3.4 per cent in real terms each year from 2019-20 to 2023-24.

Henry’s question follows his PMQ last month, where he asked Theresa May about the importance of support for blood cancer patients. The Crawley MP has been chosen by his parliamentary colleagues to serve as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Blood Cancer since its formation in 2016.

Henry Smith, Member of Parliament for Crawley, asked the Prime Minister;

“In 2005, the then Labour Government closed accident and emergency at Crawley Hospital. I am delighted that my right hon. Friend has committed to have additional resources for the National Health Service, including as part of the Brexit dividend.

“Can I get an assurance that the upcoming NHS plan will include a return for local services at its heart?”

The Prime Minister, Rt Hon Theresa May MP, responded;

“Absolutely, I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. Obviously, the long-term plan for the National Health Service is being developed by the National Health Service in conjunction with clinicians and people at a local level. It is absolutely clear that we need to ensure that we recognise the importance of those community services.

“As my hon. Friend says, it is this Government who are not only putting in place a long-term plan to support the National Health Service but also that longer-term funding, which will see the biggest cash boost ever in the history of the national health service.”

Crawley MP and All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Blood Cancer Chair Henry Smith met with Anthony Nolan in Westminster to mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month this September and to celebrate the number of potential stem cell donors in Crawley on their register.

There are several major news stories going on at the moment but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the less newsworthy issues that still need addressing. Britain has long had a reputation of being a nation of animal lovers, and so it is fitting that we recognise this in the opportunities that will arise as we leave the European Union political organisation.